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Week 2 must-see: Patriots against Jets

If Week 1 is the height of optimism each season, Week 2 can often be the low-down grumpiest week in at least half of the league's outposts.

That's because 16 teams went home unhappy last week, just about the time all their pretty offseason plans and it's-a-new-day speeches got trampled by whatever problems showed up on the field.

The Rams got shut out, Jay Cutler threw four interceptions — and it looks like more will be on the way if somebody doesn't have the spine to tell him otherwise — and the Texans lost at home after an offseason in which the owner kept saying how much he'd really like to make the playoffs.

So whether folks consider it a marathon or a sprint, the race has certainly begun, and the best game this week is to be found in New Jersey.

Must-see game of the week

Patriots (1-0) at Jets (1-0) 11 a.m.

What's not to like in this one? The Patriots are the establishment of the AFC East, the team with three Super Bowl rings on their collective fingers, the team that has run the show much of Bill Belichick's tenure. Rex Ryan is a first-year Jets coach who has spent the better part of nine months trying to goad his team into taking on the Patriots with some backbone. The Jets have done most of the talking thus far, with the Patriots trying to remain on the we've-been-there-before high road, but when the ball is in the air, this one will be a good scrap. The Patriots have won nine in a row against the Jets at Giants Stadium.

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The difference will be: Whether Patriots QB Tom Brady has fully recovered from his knee injury of 2008. He rallied the Patriots late last week for an unlikely win and Ryan figures to sell out on defense to try and pound the veteran. However, the lost stat is that since the start of the 2007 season, Brady is 18-0 as a starter in his last 18 regular-season games. The call: Patriots 24-20

Few players struggled in the opening weekend more than Carolina QB Jake Delhomme — four interceptions and a 14.7 passer rating. The Panthers need to run to take some heat off Delhomme. Falcons QB Matt Ryan is already looking to TE Tony Gonzalez as defenses load up to deal with RB Michael Turner and WR Roddy White. The call: Falcons 27-17.

Saints (1-0) at Eagles (1-0) 11 a.m.

Kevin Kolb will start at QB for the Eagles if a fractured rib keeps Donovan McNabb out of the lineup. Kolb was just 7-of-11 for 23 yards last week. The call: Saints 31-28.

Ravens (1-0) at Chargers (1-0) 2:15 p.m.

The Ravens shook things up last weekend when they threw the ball 43 times and piled up 500 yards of offense. They have made QB Joe Flacco the centerpiece of the offense for good reason — the Ravens are 5-1 in the last six regular-season road games he has started. The Chargers are one of the best at home. Since the start of the 2006 season they are 20-4 at home. The call: Ravens 30-20.

Giants (1-0) at Cowboys (1-0) 6:20 p.m.

For numbers junkies, the Cowboys have won their home opener 70 percent of the time in the franchise's history. Dallas QB Tony Romo is the league's leading passer with a 140.6 rating. Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora has 17 1/2 sacks in the team's last 20 division games. The call: Cowboys 21-16.

Quick hitters

Vikings (1-0) at Lions (0-1) 11 a.m.

The Lions are going to have to take chances on defense — and that is a tough recipe for success against a team that can run the ball like the Vikings. The call: Vikings 23-10.

Bengals (0-1) at Packers (1-0) 11 a.m.

Cincinnati QB Carson Palmer looked rusty as he tried to find openings against the Broncos' defense and now he gets to try his luck against the Packers. The call: Packers 17-14.

Cardinals (0-1) at Jaguars (0-1) 11 a.m.

Cardinals QB Kurt Warner has traditionally piled up the yardage and wins against AFC teams in his career — 17 300-yard games in 26 starts against AFC teams. The call: Cardinals 27-17.

Raiders (0-1) at Chiefs (0-1) 11 a.m.

The Raiders showed a little backbone this past Monday night, and the Chiefs showed a little more offense than folks expected. The call: Raiders 23-13.

Texans (0-1) at Titans (0-1) 11 a.m.

It's the Titans' home opener, and they've had three extra days to get ready for an already stumbling Houston team. Texans coach Gary Kubiak is 1-5 against the Titans. The call: Titans 30-20.

Rams (0-1) at Redskins (0-1) 11 a.m.

The Rams were dismal in the opener under first-year coach Steve Spagnuolo. The call: Redskins 21-9.

Buccaneers (0-1) at Bills (0-1) 2:05 p.m.

This one is about how the Bills respond in a short week to having a win grabbed out from under them by the Pats. The call: Buccaneers 28-17.

Seahawks (1-0) at 49ers (1-0) 2:05 p.m.

Seattle posted the league's only shutout last week and has won nine of the last 12 meetings with San Francisco. The 49ers are at, or near, the bottom of the major statistical offensive categories. The call: Seahawks 17-13.

Steelers (1-0) at Bears (0-1) 2:15 p.m.

If Cutler believes he can play impatient and impulsive against Dick LeBeau's defense, he's got another think — and loss — coming. The call: Steelers 28-16.

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

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